Title: Growth through Christ

artist statement: Growing Through Christ connects my younger self to my now adult self who is fully devoted to Christ. As a child that grew up in church it was difficult to understand what was being taught to me. Because of this I strayed away from church as a teenager and tried to find hope in other spiritual practices. As a young adult who has gone through many trials I have found my own way back to God. I have taken the time to understand the teachings and lessons and began to see how God changed my life. This sculpture embraces the child in me who attached to things like stuffed animals. The beads that would be worn by my hair weekly. Those things remind me of my childhood. And connecting those to the note of faith above is string and gold hoops. A string that was wrapped and tucked and sewn into the stuffed animal. All connecting to the words of faith. And even though as a child I felt far from God he was still there patiently waiting on my return. This piece reminds viewers that even if we stray away from God he is always there along the way to lead you back with his gentle love.

materials: stuffed animal, thread, wooden beads, metal jump rings/clip, marker, acrylic

dimensions: 1.5 ft, 7in